49ers Quotes of the year

Updated 3:51 pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Randy Moss #84 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Randy Moss #84 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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Safety Donte Whitner (31) during the second half of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday November 19, 2012.

Safety Donte Whitner (31) during the second half of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday November 19, 2012.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride yells instructions during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 14, 2012. The Giants defeated the 49ers 26-3. AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)

New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride yells instructions during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 14, 2012. The Giants defeated the 49ers 26-3. AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)

Photo: Kevin Terrell, AP

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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) scrambles in the third quarter for a short gain before being pushed out of bounds in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday December 9, 2012. less

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) scrambles in the third quarter for a short gain before being pushed out of bounds in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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49ers coach Jim Harbaugh during the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday October 18, 2012.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh during the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday October 18, 2012.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

49ers Quotes of the year

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"When I first came into this league, it was more of I didn't really understand really everything that goes on with the NFL. And now that I'm matured physically and mentally, my philosophy is I do not like what the NFL does for me, I want to know what I can do to make the NFL better. And if that's coming out here teaching the young guys and showing my professionalism and being a leader on and off the field, that's what I want to do because I think that if we get that type of mind-set it'll make it a better league. And the league has blessed me and my family and I'm very fortunate to be in a position that I'm in, but like I said, I like what I can do for the league, not what the league can do for me."

Randy Moss, who earned season-long raves for his team-first attitude, on July 27

"Those scribes, pundits, so-called experts, who have gone as far to say that he is going to be a bust, should just stop. I recommend that because they are making themselves look more clueless than they (already have). To go on record, A.J.'s going to be an outstanding football player."

Jim Harbaugh's unprompted training-camp response to criticism of first-round pick A.J. Jenkins, who didn't have a catch in the regular season

"I dropped the ball. My hands are terrible."

Safety Donte Whitner after he whiffed on a potential game-changing interception in a 24-13 loss at Minnesota on Sept. 23.

Justin "Smith is a beast on the inside - he's strong, he does as good a job (as anybody) of grabbing a hold of offensive linemen and allowing those twists to take place. He never gets called for it, so he gets away with murder."

Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride before his team's game against the 49ers on Oct. 14

"Kevin Gilbride's outrageous, irrational statement regarding Justin Smith's play is, first, an absurd analogy. Second, it is an incendiary comment targeting one of the truly exemplary players in this league. It's obvious that the Giants' coaching staff's sole purpose is to use their high visibility to both criticize and influence officiating."

Jim Harbaugh's response to reports that Alex Smith had lost his confidence in the aftermath of 24-3 win at Arizona on Oct. 29 in which Smith completed 18 of 19 passes

"We'll see. I usually tend to go with the guy who's got the hot hand. And we've got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand."

Jim Harbaugh on who would be the 49ers' starting quarterback after Colin Kaepernick starred in his first career start, a 32-7 win against the Bears on Nov. 19

"Excited."

Colin Kaepernick on his feelings after being named the 49ers' starting quarterback on Nov. 28

"You state your case with your play. I feel like I've done that. I feel like the only thing I did to lose my job was get a concussion."

Alex Smith, who led the NFL in completion percentage and ranked fifth in passer rating, after Colin Kaepernick was named San Francisco's starter

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